PAUL AND VIRGINIA. I57 



ûa(h of light, almoft immediately fucceeded by 

 the report of a cannon. We concluded that the 

 veflel was at no great diflance from us, and we all 

 flew to that quarter where we had feen her fignal. 

 We then difcerned, through the mift, the hull and 

 fail-yards of a large veffel. We were fo clofe to 

 her, that, notwithftanding the roaring of the fea, 

 we diftindly heard the boatfwain's whiftle, and the 

 voices of the failors, who gave three cheers of. 

 Long live the King : for this is the exclama- 

 tion of Frenchmen, when in extreme danger, as 

 well as amidft their greateft rejoicings ; as if they 

 meant to call their Prince to their afliftance, in 

 perilous feafons, or, as if they intended, even 

 then, to declare, that they were ready to meet death 

 for his fake. 



From the moment that the Saint-Gerand per- 

 ceived we were within reach of giving her affill- 

 ance, fhe went on firing a gun every three minutes. 

 M. de la Bourdonaye ordered large fires to be kind- 

 led, here and there, along the flrand, and fent to 

 all the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, in quefl 

 of provifions, planks, cables, and empty cafks. A 

 multitude foon arrived, accompanied by their ne- 

 groes, loaded with provifions and cordage, who 

 came from the plantations of Gold-Dufl, the 

 quarter of the Marfli, and from Rampart River, 

 One of the oldefl of thefe planters approached the 



Governor^ 



